Pump



Aug. 23, '1949. F. P. BUCKLEIN PUMP Filed July l, 1946 Patented Aug. 23,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT! OFI-rca PUMP Frank P. Bucklein, Los Angeles,Calif.

Application July 1, 1946, Serial No. 680,633`

This invention relates to improvements in Pumps.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved pump which is ofrelatively simple and durable construction and which is highly eilicientin its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump in which there isan outer casing having on its interior one or more helically arrangedpassages in close proximity with which a cylindrical rotor or runner isrotatable that denes the inner walls of the passages and which duringits rotation causes liquid being pumped to progress lengthwise of thecasing through the passages in a highly eiiicient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump suitable forpumping wells suchv as oil wells having the above describedcharacteristics and which is characterized by the rotor being hollowwith provision being made for introducing a fluid through the rotor thatmay be advantageously used in the well in the course of pumping.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which Will be mademanifest in the following detailed description and specically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the'accompanyingdrawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a typical portion of the improvedpump;

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of the pump illustrating it as beingused in pumping a well: and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 3-3upon Fig. 1. l

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the improved pumpconsists of an outer case or housing I of generally cylindrical form andhaving on its interior one or more helically arranged passages II.

These passages may be dened in any suitable manner such as by helicalvanes I2 that may be formed integral with the body of the case or whichmay be separately formed and introduced into the case. The number of thepassages II may vary and in some instances there may be but a singlehelical passage. I have built a pump embodying the present inventionwherein the vanes I2 are provided merely by the convolutions of ahelical spring droppedinto an outer cylinder. Such spring deiines but asingle helical passage II within the case. In the preferred form ofconstruction, however, the number of helical 2 Claims. (Cl. 103-83)passages Il exceeds a single passage and as illustrated there are six ofsuch passages defined by the vanes I2. The inclination of these passagesmay likewise vary although I prefer that the pitch of the passages beapproximately 45 with most liquids.

Within the case there is disposed a cylindrical rotor or runner I3. Thisrotor or runner presents cylindrical external walls which define theinner walls or sides of the passages II. They are arranged in closeproximity with the inner edges of the vanes and although there may besome substantial clearance between the rotor or runner and the vanes asindicated in Fig. 3 when relatively heavy or viscous liquids are beingpumped the clearance should not be very great. Where thin highly uidliquids are being pumped the clearance should be correspondingly reducedand in some instances the exterior of the rotor or runner I3 mayactually engage the inner edges of the vanes and bear against them inwhich case the vanes serve to provide a bearing or stabilizer for therotating rlmner.

In Fig. 2 the pump is illustrated as being installed in a well such asan oil well in which case the case I0 maybe formed of the conventionaltubing and the vanes I2 either formed therein or supplied by additionalparts that are introduced into the tubing. These vanes may extendcontinuously throughout substantially the complete length of the tubingor the vanes may be located only at spaced intervals throughout thelength of the tubing. I4 indicates a tubing head in which there is anoutlet I5 for the pumped liquid. The tubing head is equipped with'apacking gland I6 around the rotary rotor or runner. The rotary runnermay be driven in any suitable manner such as that indicated by the beltdrive at I1, for example. The rotor or runner is preferably hollow fromend to end or has a passage I8 therethrough. 'Ihe upper end of thispassage communicates with the interior of a swivel case I9. By havingthe rotor or runner hollow the weight of the runner is materiallyreduced and if desired a iiuid may be introduced through the swivel caseand forced downwardly through the rotor. To this end a hose connection20 leads to the swivel case and may supply it with gas, solvents, orhigh temperature liquids that can be discharged from the runner in thewell during the course of pumping. Thus in an oil field whererepressuring conditions may be required gas under pressure may bedischarged downwardly through the runner. In other situations solventsor high temperature liquids may be discharged to dissolve or melt heavyliquids that it is desired to pump.

In operation the rotor or runner is driven contlnu usly relatively tothe case l which remains stat onary orr substantially so. The optimumspeed of rotation will vary depending upon the diameter, the depth ofthe helical passage. and the viscosity of the liquid being pumped.

While the exact nature of the performance of the liquid within thepassage is diillcult to ascertain from the observation I have madeapparently what transpires is as follows: The liquid in the passages is,of course, in contact with the exterior surfaces of the rotor and as therotor rotates this liquid that is immediately adjacent the rotor isfrictionally carried with it. If increment of liquid however sets upwithin the passage a type of rolling action such as is indicated byarrows on Fig. 3 sothat in effect the liquid rolls up the helicalpassages rolling on the stationary outer walls of the passages and beingimpelled by the movable inner walls afforded by the exterior surface ofthe rotor, this rolling action causes the liquid to be driven up thehelical passages with a minimum resistance. While probably that 111m ofliquid that is in contact with the outer walls of the passages and withthe sides of the vanes I2 remains stationary so the ball of the liquidrolls thereon. The rolling action is probably set up by the combinationof the frictional engagement between the liquid and theexterior of therotor and the centrifugal force imparted to the liquid as soon as it ispicked up and is carried by the rotor.

As it is possible to have a substantial clearance between the rotor andthe internal edges of the .vanes the pump may be advantageously employedin pumping liquids containing finely divided solids such as for examplepumping wells wherein the oil contains substantial amounts of sand. Thesand particles can readily pass up through the clearance space withoutwearing the rotor or the vanes. The clearance space when employed shouldnot be excessive for I have observed that if the clearance is too greatthat the liqud instead of rolling up the inclined passages will merelyspill through the clearance space from passage to passage and will notbe elevated by the rotor.

While the pump is merely shown as having its lower end submerged in theliquid that is to be pumped, it will beI appreciated that anyconventional or preferred type of standing valve or foot valve may beused in conjunction with the pump if desired.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that theimproved pump is of very simple construction and the parts are soarranged that they will not be easily worn. Even the presence of grit inthe ,liquid being pumped will not severely wear the working parts of thepump and will not interfere with its normal operation. The constructionof the pump also lends itself to the forcing through the rotor of a uidthat it may be desired to introduce into the well while it is beingpumped.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A pump comprising an outer generally cylindrical case on the interiorof which there extends from substantially end to end thereof one or morecontinuous helical grooves, and a rotor within the case presenting asmooth cylindrical surface in close proximity to the inner ends of thewalls of the grooves whereby upon rotation of the rotor relative to thecase fluid will be induced by the rotor to proceed with rolling actionthrough the grooves from one end of the case to the other, said rotorbeing hollow and open from end to end thereof.

2. A pump comprising an outer generally cylindrical case on the interiorof which there extends from substantially one end to the other one ormore continuous helical vanes dening therebetween helical grooves, and arotor within the case presenting a smooth cylindrical surface in closeproximity to the inner edges of the vanes whereby upon rotation of therotor relative to the case fluid will be induced by the rotor to proceedwith rolling action through the grooves from one end of the case to theother, said rotor being hollow and open from end to end thereof, and aswivel case secured to the top of the rotor enabling fluids to beconducted through the rotor.

FRANK P. BUCKLEIN.

REFERENCES crrEn The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

